NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

LEVEL UP Inc Welcomes Official Visit by YB Datuk Seri Dr. Salleh Said Keruak, Minister of Communications and Multimedia, In Support of A Vibrant Games Industry in Malaysia

Communications and Multimedia Minister, YB Datuk Seri Dr. Salleh Said Keruak paid an official visit to MDEC’s LEVEL UP Inc – an elite game startups incubator space- in support for Malaysia’s games industry

The visit is in line with KKMM’s announcement to turn cyber games or eSports into a new industry that can generate revenue for the country in the future, at the Asian and international level

First announced in November 2016, LEVEL UP Inc is created to provide promising game developers and smaller studios with the necessary resources to kick-start their journey in the games industry. The facility is created for starting game makers, indie developers and small to medium games start-ups, with the aim of providing these budding talents with comprehensive support that will drive the local games creation market.

During the visit, Datuk Seri Dr. Salleh met with representatives from MDEC including Datuk Yasmin Mahmood, Chief Executive Officer and Hasnul Hadi Samsudin, Vice President of the Creative Content and Technologies division, where both sides exchanged views on the development of Malaysia’s games industry and how this emerging industry alongside eSports could generate positive revenue for the country.

“Malaysia’s ICT industry has developed into one of the most important economic sectors and we are confident that the trend we observe in this industry today will continue to expand with more of the younger generation of Malaysians making their mark through games. It is the vision of our Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak to focus on growing the digital economy in Malaysia and we are happy that eSports are also today recognised as a new industry that promises a variety of opportunities. My visit here today is to reaffirm our support for the games industry, with the hope that we may someday see the games produced at LEVEL UP Inc played competitively globally.” said YB Datuk Seri Dr. Salleh Said Keruak.

“Malaysia has become a premium location for games and creative content development in recent years thanks to a growing interest in the industry and the quality of games produced locally. With the government acknowledging games-related sectors as an economic contributor, we believe there is a massive prospect for Malaysians looking to turn their passion for games as a career path. As an agency fronting the shift, we aim to provide all the assistance and support necessary to aspire our youth and creative talents to help them become a part of a successful, sustainable and accessible creative content ecosystem,” added Datuk Yasmin Mahmood.

The visit also saw the Minister and guests from KKMM taken on a tour at LEVEL UP Inc, followed by a plaque signing ceremony to commemorate the Ministry’s official visit and solidifying mutual commitment between both sides to promote the growth of games-related sectors - including eSports - in Malaysia.

Greater appetite for eSports signals opportunity for game developers in Malaysia

The Government expects the appetite for eSports to grow bigger this year with mobile gaming claiming the larger chunk of the market, and the establishment of eSports and gaming-based education programmes in Malaysia which are expected to produce highly competitive players. In August last year, Malaysian team LGD.Forever Young made history at the prestigious International Dota 2 tournament when they placed third, earning more than US$2.6 million prize money.

According to global data, there are over 2.2 billion gamers across the globe and is expected to generate US$108.9 billion in game revenues in 2017. In South East Asia, close to a third of its population are identified as gamers, with revenue growth forecast placed at 28.8%, making it the fastest growth region in the world. Data also showed that half of South East Asian gamers are paying customers, proving the viability of game products in the region.

YB Datuk Seri Seri Dr. Salleh Said Keruak, Datuk Yasmin Mahmood and Dato' Ng Wan Peng posing for a group photo with game developers at Level Up Inc.

About Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)

Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation or MDEC (formerly known as Multimedia Development Corporation Sdn. Bhd.), an agency incorporated 22 years ago under the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia, spearheads the development of Malaysia’s Digital Economy. Its mission is centred on driving investments, building local tech champions, catalysing digital innovation ecosystems and propagating digital inclusivity.

MDEC is also responsible for ensuring that Malaysia continues to develop digital innovation and nurture local information, communications and technology (ICT) talent, while attracting participation from global ICT companies to invest and develop cutting edge digital and creative solutions in the country. To know more about MDEC’s efforts and initiatives in driving Digital Economy, please visit https://www.mdec.my/ or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MyMDEC/ and Twitter at @mymdec